Convenience handle means for carton

ABSTRACT

A handle is provided in the upper portion of a carton that incorporates features which facilitate the grasping of the handle means as when the carton is to be lifted and carried away. A series of score lines are arranged across the overlying flaps of the upper end closure of the carton, in addition to the disposition of prearranged score lines proximate the upper edges of select walls of the carton so that as one desires to grasp the aforesaid handle means, his fingers may slightly depress the underlying flap and bulge the carton walls to provide convenient clearance for further insertion of the hand and ease of grasping of said handle; and, reinforcing tape is provided at particular locations in this upper portion of the carton to strengthen it against tearing and for carrying as the foregoing manipulative procedures are being performed.

United StatesPatent 1 91 Bonczyk Feb. 26, 1974 [5 CONVENIENCE HANDLEMEANS FOR 3,076,591 2/1963 Nute et al. 229/52 B CARTON 3,216,645 11/1965l-lemann 229/52 B [75] Inventor. Bruno C. Bonczyk, East Alton, Ill.Primary Examiner Davis T. Modrhead 1 Assignee: Pinon Box Board p yAlton, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul M. Denk [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 197257 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 247350 A handle is provided in the upper portionof a carton that incorporates features which facilitate the grasping[52] US. Cl. 229/52 B of'the handle means as when the rto is to be fted[51] Int. Cl...... 365d 25/28, B65d 5/46 and rri ay- A series of scorelin s are arranged [5 8] Field of Search .229/52 B, 52 BC, 52 AC, acrossthe overlying flaps of the upper end closure of 229/52 AL 52 AM thecarton, in addition to the disposition of prear- W ranged score linesproximate the upper edges of select '[56] Ref enc Cit d walls of thecarton so that as one desires to grasp the UNITED STATES PATENTSaforesaid handle means, his fingers may slightly de- 2 681 143 6/1954 GUer 229752 B X press the underlying flap and bulge the carton walls to31971 16 7/1965 Zaire Q12: 229/52 B convemem clearan. flmher msemm2,723,027 11/1955 Guyer 229/52 B x the hand and ease graspmg of Saldhandle; 3,094,268 6/1963 Swanson et al. 229/52 B infofciflg p isProvided at particular locations in 3,315,876 4/1967 Vanderjagt 229/52AL this pp Portion Of the carton to Strengthen it 2,785,847 3/1957Forrer...., 229/52B .against tearing and for carrying as the foregoingma- 2,868,433 1/1959 Anderson, Jr 229/52 B nipulative procedures arebeing performed. 2,598,051 5/1952 Guyer et al. 229/52 B 2,986,324 5/1961Anderson, Jr 229/52 B 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention principally is concerned with a cartonincorporating handle means that may be easily grasped, with the upperportion of said carton simultaneously providing the necessary clearanceto provide for wielding of its handle means.

Various prior art carton boxes have been provided wherein handles havebeen formed from their upper flap, but to acquire any clearance for thegrasping of the handle as when the product laden carton is to becarried, such handles usually are designed having their side edgesextending downwardly and partially formed of the side walls of thecarton. Usually this type ofa designed carton handle will suffice wherethe product being carried has been prepackaged in additional containersthat are packed in said carton, such as, for example, six packs of abeverage, or other product, and wherein any openings caused in the sidewalls of the carton due to this handle edge extensions are insufficientto allow any spillage. But, where-bulk material,-

upward parts of said walls, usually provides a sufficientopening thatwill allow for spillage of the bulk material therefrom. Hence, thetype'of receptacles such as disclosed in the US. Pat. Nos. 2,723,027 and2,986,324, are believed to be deficient for use in holding any'such bulkmaterial for the reason previously analyzed.

For the foregoing reasons, the principle object of this invention is toprovide a carton having a handle means formed entirely from its upperend closureand yet provides a means for furnishing sufficient clearancefor insertion of the hand as when the carton is being carried.

A further object of this invention is to provide a design for formationof a handle entirely from 'the upper flaps of a carton and which flapsare cooperative in providing sufficient clearance to facilatate graspingof the carton handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton having weakenedareas proximate its upper portion which areas can be convenientlymanipulated to provide clearance for grasping of an integrally designedhandle, but yet not significantly weaken the carton structurally.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convenience handle fora carton which can be formed in the carton blank as it is being cut andprocessed in a machining operation. I

Other objects will become more apparent to those skilled in the art uponreviewing the contents of the summary of the invention, and thedescription of its preferred embodiment in view of the drawings. BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of a carton showing the handle meansof the invention provided in its upward portion;

FIG. 2 shows the same carton of FIG. 1 with its end closure flaps beingopened to expose their undersides;

FIG. 3 depicts a view of theupper portion of the carton as the hand isbeing inserted to grasp the handle means of this invention;'

FIG. 4 provides a sectional view of the upward portion of the cartontaken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 provides an underside view of the top flap of the upper endclosure showing a modification in the handle means of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic concept of the inventioncan becomprehended by observing that the usual form of carton orcontainer 1, regardless whether. it be of the type for holding multipleitems or bulk material, is provided with a handle means 2 formed in itsupward porseries of overlapping flaps, as at 9 through 12, but morespecifically, overlying flaps l1 and 12, are each articularly joinedwith one of the aforesaid walls of the car- The overlying flaps 12 isshown provided with a pair of cutout portions, as at 13 and 14, whichhave been disposed in such a manner so as to provide a length of saidflap, or the strip 15, intermediate said cut outs and which is disposedto provide a handle that may be conveniently grasped by the hand of theparty desiring to convey the carton.

When cartons of the foregoing design are formed from a blank, and theneither manually folded, or folded through a machine operation, there isa tendency for the various overlapping or overlying flaps 9 through 12to become 'so snugly continuous that it would be very difficult for oneto conveniently grasp the handle 15 provided in the upper flap 12.Hence, a series of score lines are conveniently formed in and arrangedaround this upper portion of the container, and which -score linescooperate to provide a series of mildly weakened areas in the cartonwalls and flaps so that as any pressure is exerted by the hand by onedesiring to convey .the carton, sufficient clearance will be providedsurrounding the location of the handle 15 so the fingers may be easilyslid under said handle to provide for its grasping and to facilitate thecarrying of the bulk ladened carton.

As shown in FIG. 3, usually the index finger and thumb are customerilyused in grasping a handle of this nature, and they insert into the twocutout portions, or

hand holes, as'shown, and are closed against the edges of the handlelength 15. But, as previously described,

the disposition of score lines at locations that can be in- 3 disposedapproximately centrally of said flap and extending from its leading edgeat a location where the flap joins with the wall 4. in addition, anotherscore line 17 is provided across the overlying flap l2, approximatelycentrally thereof, and from one side edge to the other, so that as thehand grasps the handle 15, said handle will bend slightly upward, at thelocation where this score line crosses the same. To provide for thiscooperative bending of the flaps and handle, preferably at least aportion of the overlying flap 12, except along its handle 15, will alsobe adhered, as by an adhesive or the like, to the underlying flap 11.Then, as the hand presses down as at the cut out portions 13 and 14,both of these flaps will bend downwardly while the handle 15 bendsupwardly, thereby providing this clearance for its grasping by the hand.It is the location of the two aforesaid score lines 16 and 17 which, asthe hand is being pressed against the flaps and inserted as shown inFIG. 3, causes the handle 15 to bend slightly upwardly, as aforesaid,while at the same time the fingers will slightly depress and bend theoverlying and underlying flaps 11 and 12 downwardly along the locationof said scorelines to further add to the clearance needed for insertionof the hand. To further increase the slight bulging of this carton,there are provided an additional pair of score lines 18 and 19 formedjust proximate the upper edges of the walls of the carton, and in thisparticular instance, these score lines are slightly arcuate in design,and each is located proximate the upward edge of its respective wallwhere it joins with a side wall of the container, but the score line isdisposed slightly below said upward edge at the center of the wall. inaddition, short lengths of score lines, as at 20 and 21, are

formed approximately vertically, at a central location of the walls 3and 4, and extend from the location where the flaps join with saidwalls, to a downward location where each line intersects its respectivearcuate score line 18 and 19. Hence, and through the disposition of thescore lines as previously described, as the hand, or more specificallyits fingers, are being pressed against the flaps and inserted around thehandle means, such as shown in FIG. 4, said score lines induce a slightbulging in their respective front and back walls 3 and 4, whichincreases the clearance around the upwardly bending handle means. It canalso be seen that the flaps are slightly depressed downwardly throughthe arrangment of their weakened areas formed along their score lines,and as shown, as the fingers grasp the handle means 15, and are insertedbetwen said means and said flap 11, said handle will also have itstendency to buckle upwardly along its score line 17 as previouslydescribed. Hence, a handle has now been provided with sufficient spaceto provide for firm retention of the handle means, and the carton, whichmight be laden with a bulky material of'some weight, allowing easycarriage.

it should be remarked that any reference to and use of the word scoreline at the various locations in the walls and flaps of this carton ismeant to be construed rather generically, and that the score line mayalso comprehend the use of any form of crease line in the cartonpaperboard, perforatedline, scratched, etched, or indentation marks, orany other related paperboard formation, that may desirably provide amildly weakened area in the carton at those locations where clearance isneeded.

it would also be noted. that various forms of reinforcing tape, or thelike, as at 22, is adhered to the various flaps and walls ofthe'container to provide for their reinforcement against fracture andfatigue particularly at those locations where bending is caused toprovide handle mean clearance. And, it is to be further noted that thereinforcing tape is desirably provided along the under surface of theoverlying flap l2 and particularly along the length of said flap that isformed into the handle means 15. This reinforcing tape may be of anyvariety of such tapes as are readily available upon the market, andwhich are usually nylon or other fiber reinforced to resist theirtearing A modification in the formation of the handle means of thisinvention is shown in FIG. 5. This figure which provides an undersideview of the overlying flap 12 of the upper end closure of the carton isprovided having a hand aperature 23 cut therethrough, and, as distinctfrom the handle means 15 previously described, as formed from said flap,this handle means 24 comprises a length of reinforcing tape or otherfabric that is adhered to the side portions of said flap, and isarranged for spanning the distance across the aperture 23. Hence, thelength of tape 24 that spans this aperature provides a handle that maybe grasped by the fingers when one desires to carry off the carton. Aspreviously described in the other embodiment of this upper flap, a scoreline 15 is arranged centrally across the flap and can provide somebending and clearance as the hand is inserted under the tape 24. Allother aspects of this modified carton are similar to the previousdescription of the other flaps and walls of the preferred carton.

It should be obvious that a further attribute in the formation of acarton'of this style is that the handle means can be formed during theprocessing of the carton as its blank is being cut and then folded intoan enclosure. Other forms of handle type cartons as shown in the priorart usually incorporate some type of wire or plastic handle, or thelike, that must be separately attached to the upper flaps of the cartonafter it has already been cut as a blank and then folded into itstubular form.

Other variations in the construction of the handled carton ofthisinvention, within the scope of the appended claims, will appear, tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosureThedescription of this preferred embodiment is merely meant to beillustrative of the principles of this invention, and any equivilent orsimilar designs in a handled carton which embraces the principle of thisinvention are intended to be a protected by said claims. Having thusdescribed the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured byLetters Patent is:

1. In a handled-carton for holding bulk material and of the typehavingupper and lower end panels intervened by spaced walls to providean enclosure to prevent spillage of said material as the carton is beingconveyed, the upper panel comprising a series of overlying flaps eachconnecting with one of said walls, the upper flap having a handle meansprovided therein, the underlying flap having a score line arrangedperpendicularly with respect to said handle means which induces itsbending to provide clearance for the handle means as it is beinggrasped.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the wall to which the underlyingflap connects also hasa score line formed proximate the location of saidconnection, and said score line forms a weakened area in the wall thatline forms a weakened area in said wall rendering it sus-.

ceptible to bulging thereby increasing the clearance for the handlemeans as it is being grasped.

4. In a paperboard carton of the type for use in holding granulatedmaterial and having a handle means provided in its top portion tofacilitate its carriage, and including front, back and side walls with'end closures, the upper end closure comprising a series of overlyingflaps with each flap being articular with one of said walls, said handlemeans being formed in the upper one of said overlying flaps, theunderlying flap having a score line formed thereacross and arrangedperpendicularly with respect to said handle means, the front and backwalls each having a score line formed proximate their top edges andbeing arranged approximately side to side, the cooperation between saidscore lines providing for a slight depression in the underlying flap andoutward bulging in said walls to provide clearance for the handle meansas it is being grasped, without any spillage of the contained material.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the score line in the underlyingflap is arranged centrally of said flap and disposed from its front edgeto the back edge thereof.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the score lines in the front andback walls are of arcuate design extending from their upper edgesproximate each said wall to a distance below said edges at the center ofsaid walls.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said upper flap includes a scoreline formed thereacross and arranged perpendicular with respect to saidhandle means and which facilitates an upward bending of the handle meansproviding clearance as it is being grasped.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said handle means comprises a stripof said upper flap having hand holes formed through said flap anddisposed to either side of said strip. 7

9. The invention of claim 8 and further including a reinforcing tapeadhering to said strip and flap to strenghthen them against tearing.

10. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said upper flap includes anaperature provided therethrough, said grasped.

11. The invention of claim 4 wherein reinforcing tape is applied to eachsaid flap tostrengthen them during grasping of the handle means and asthe underlying flap is being pressed to provide clearance for saidmeans.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein reinforcing tape is applied aroundthe upper marginal edge of each includes a score line formedthereacross, at least a porhandle means comprising a length ofreinforcing tape N'iding for clearance as the handle means is being tionof said upper flap being adhered to the underlying flap and capable ofbeing slightly depressed therewith to enhance the clearance for thehandle means as it is being grasped.

15. The invention of claim 10 wherein said upper flap is capable ofbeing depressed with said underlying flap to thereby enhance theclearance for the length of tape as it is being grasped, a

16. In a paperboard carton of the type having a handle means provided inits top portion to facilitate its carriage, and including front, backand side walls with end closures, the upper end closure comprising aseries of overlying flaps with each flap being articular with one ofsaid walls, said handle means being formed in the upper one of saidoverlying flaps, the underlying flap having a score line formedthereacross, the front and back walls each having a score line formedproximate theirtop edges and being arranged approximately side to side,the score line in the underlying flap being arranged centrally of saidflap and disposed from its front edge to the back edge thereof, thescore lines in the front and back walls being ofarcuate design extendingfrom their upper edges proximate each side wall to a distance below saidedges at the center of said walls, an additional score line formed ineach of the front and back wall, each said score line disposedapproximately centrally of its respective wall and extend ing from itsupper edge downwardly to the intersection with the arcuate score line.the cooperation between said score lines providing for a slightdepression in the underlying flap and bulging in said walls to provideclearance for the handle means as it is being grasped. l l l =l l

1. In a handled carton for holding bulk material and of the type havingupper and lower end panels intervened by spaced walls to provide anenclosure to prevent spillage of said material as the carton is beingconveyed, the upper panel comprising a series of overlying flaps eachconnecting with one of said walls, the upper flap having a handle meansprovided therein, the underlying flap having a score line arrangedperpendicularly with respect to said handle means which induces itsbending to provide clearance for the handle means as it is beinggrasped.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the wall to which theunderlying flap connects also has a score line formed proximate thelocation of said connection, and said score line forms a weakened areain the wall that induces its outward bulging to increase the clearancefor the handle means as it is being grasped.
 3. The invention of claim 1wherein the wall to which the upper flap connects has a score lineformed proximate the location of said connection, and said score lineforms a weakened area in said wall rendering it susceptible to bulgingthereby increasing the clearance for the handle means as it is beinggrasped.
 4. In a paperboard carton of the type for use in holdinggranulated material and having a handle means provided in its topportion to facilitate its carriage, and including front, back and sidewalls with end closures, the upper end closure comprising a series ofoverlying flaps with each flap being articular with one oF said walls,said handle means being formed in the upper one of said overlying flaps,the underlying flap having a score line formed thereacross and arrangedperpendicularly with respect to said handle means, the front and backwalls each having a score line formed proximate their top edges andbeing arranged approximately side to side, the cooperation between saidscore lines providing for a slight depression in the underlying flap andoutward bulging in said walls to provide clearance for the handle meansas it is being grasped, without any spillage of the contained material.5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the score line in the underlyingflap is arranged centrally of said flap and disposed from its front edgeto the back edge thereof.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the scorelines in the front and back walls are of arcuate design extending fromtheir upper edges proximate each said wall to a distance below saidedges at the center of said walls.
 7. The invention of claim 4 whereinsaid upper flap includes a score line formed thereacross and arrangedperpendicular with respect to said handle means and which facilitates anupward bending of the handle means providing clearance as it is beinggrasped.
 8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said handle means comprisesa strip of said upper flap having hand holes formed through said flapand disposed to either side of said strip.
 9. The invention of claim 8and further including a reinforcing tape adhering to said strip and flapto strenghthen them against tearing.
 10. The invention of claim 5 andwherein said upper flap includes an aperature provided therethrough,said handle means comprising a length of reinforcing tape adhering tosaid flap and spanning the aperture, the underlying flap capable ofbeing depressed thereby providing for clearance as the handle means isbeing grasped.
 11. The invention of claim 4 wherein reinforcing tape isapplied to each said flap to strengthen them during grasping of thehandle means and as the underlying flap is being pressed to provideclearance for said means.
 12. The invention of claim 11 whereinreinforcing tape is applied around the upper marginal edge of eachfront, back and side wall to provide for their strengthening as whenthey are being bulged to provide clearance during grasping of the handlemeans.
 13. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of saidupper flap is adhered to said underlying flap and capable ofsimultaneously bending with said underlying flap to provide clearancefor the handle means as it is being grasped.
 14. The invention of claim4 wherein said upper flap includes a score line formed thereacross, atleast a portion of said upper flap being adhered to the underlying flapand capable of being slightly depressed therewith to enhance theclearance for the handle means as it is being grasped.
 15. The inventionof claim 10 wherein said upper flap is capable of being depressed withsaid underlying flap to thereby enhance the clearance for the length oftape as it is being grasped.
 16. In a paperboard carton of the typehaving a handle means provided in its top portion to facilitate itscarriage, and including front, back and side walls with end closures,the upper end closure comprising a series of overlying flaps with eachflap being articular with one of said walls, said handle means beingformed in the upper one of said overlying flaps, the underlying flaphaving a score line formed thereacross, the front and back walls eachhaving a score line formed proximate their top edges and being arrangedapproximately side to side, the score line in the underlying flap beingarranged centrally of said flap and disposed from its front edge to theback edge thereof, the score lines in the front and back walls being ofarcuate design extending from their upper edges proximate each side wallto a distance below said edges at the center of said walls, anadditional score line formed in each of the front and back wall, eaChsaid score line disposed approximately centrally of its respective walland extending from its upper edge downwardly to the intersection withthe arcuate score line, the cooperation between said score linesproviding for a slight depression in the underlying flap and bulging insaid walls to provide clearance for the handle means as it is beinggrasped.